I picked up a 1-7 twist, 14 inch MGM Contender from Charlie SA recently, and was wondering if anyone has experimented with heavy bullets (62 to 80 grains) in a .223 Rem handgun. To sight it in I used my standard AR varminter load consisting of a Sierra 65gr GameKing, 24.5gr AA2520, Rem 7 1/2 primer, and Winchester brass. This load put four shots into .706 and the fifth opened it to 1.227 inches at 100 yards. Velocity was 2700 fps, and expansion at 100 yards was excellent, although the bullet did stop in the third jug of water. When my sons were younger, they used my AR with 24 inch barrel and this load to take several Hill Country Whitetail, and one feral goat. While I wouldn't consider this my first choice for deer in a handgun, I would like a load that would serve that purpose in a pinch. Just thought I would check with the other members and see if anyone has used anything heavier, or different in their .223 Rem handguns.

I have a 13? Contender barrel from MGM in .223 Rem with a 1-7? Twist.

Took a doe with it and 80gr Hornady A-Max at 140 yards. Worked perfectly.

I have also taken a few deer and pigs with a the 64gr GD bullet out of a 12in .223 Rem barrel. Under 100 yards on those. Still performed admirably.

Somehow I knew you would reply Zee. What sort of velocity were you getting, and what was your choice of powder? I have owned at least a couple of T/C factory barrels in .223, but always managed to trade them off for something else. I kept telling myself that I didn't have a use for something that small in caliber, but then I saw this one in the classifieds section and thought it would be cool to play with some of the heavier bullets. Please feel free to offer any other advice on this caliber.

Thanks!

23.5gr H4895 gives me 2,475 fps from the 13in barrel.

That twist should stabilize the 90 grainers like the 224 Valkrie uses as well.

I have a pet load that is a "Critter Kill'n" machine! Here where I live in Florida we have a pretty bad hog problem on State lands and also on or peanut and mellon fields. I used to remove hundreds of hogs a year on nuisance/deprivation permits. I have a friend who works for the USDA to control wildlife around airports and other Federal lands who I load for and he loves this round as well. There has also been a truck load of youngsters I've taken out and they have killed their first deer with this load.

.223/5.56 LC brass
64 gr. Nosler Bonded Performance .224"
24.5 grs. Varget
Fed GM205M primer

OFFSHORE, what were you shooting this load in a rifle or pistol?

I have shot this load in both; Contender 12" pistol and 24" rifle barrels. This is a pet load for my Ruger Hawkeye Predator rifle and my USDA buddy shoots this in a AR-15 20" gas gun. Never shot the pistol barrel over a chrono, but the Ruger is right at 2900 fps. with a 22" tube. I can't say enough good things about the Nosler Bonded Performance bullet. . .it is awesome! I like the 75 gr. Swift Scirocco II bullet as well, but it is finicky and out of the several .224 caliber cartridges I load for the 22-250 prints them out good. Deer and hogs don't stand a chance out to 350/400 yards.

Thanks OFFSHORE! I had seen this bullet listed on the Nosler website, but hadn't heard any reports on it till now.